Tow clamp for ski pole



Sept. 26, 1961 J. E; GMEINER TOW CLAMP FOR SKI POLE 2 Sheets-Sheet 1Filed April 4, 1958 INVENTOR JAMES E. GMEINER gmgzt ATTORNEYS Sept. 26,1961 J. E. GMEINER ,001,

TOW CLAMP FOR $141 POLE Filed April 4, 1958 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTORJAMES E. GMEINER ATTORNEYS nite States Patent 3,001,483 r TOW CLAMP FORSKI POLE James E. Gmeiner, 103 W. College Ave., Appleton, Wis. FiledApr. 4, 1958, Ser. No. 726,504 6 Claims. (Cl. 104-173) This inventionappertains to skiing and more particularly to a novel appliance foraiding a skier in the use of a tow rope.

It is common in most skiing localities to employ a tow rope for pullingskiers up mountainous and like slopes. f necessity, the top rope must betightly grasped by the skier. This causes undue hardship in that theskiers hand usually becomes cramped before reaching the top of the slopeand the entire body of the skier is more or less under tension, and thusno helpful rest is given to the skier. It has been proposed to useclamps for engaging the rope, but this does not solve the entireproblem.

It is one of the primary objects of my invention to provide meansattached directly to or forming a part of one of the skiers poles forgripping the rope, and in such a manner that the pole will extenddirectly at a desired angle to the rope whereby the basket of the poleforms an effective seat for the skier, so that all strain is relievedfrom the skier and whereby the skier can assume a position of somerepose.

Another salient object of my invention is the provision of means wherebythe pole is used as a layer for operating the rope grip or clamp, sothat when the pole is moved in one direction the clamp will tightly gripthe rope and when the pole is moved in the opposite direction, the clampwill be released from the rope.

A further object of my invention is the provision of novel means forforming the clamp, so that the same can be quickly associated with therope and one which will freely drop from the rope when pressure isrelieved from the clamp.

A still further object of my invention is to provide a tow rope clampcarried directly by the pole, which will *collapse to a positionsubstantially parallel with the shaft of the pole, so that when theclamp is not in active use,

the same can be disposed in an out-of-the-way position, whereby the polecan be effectively used without interference from the clamp.

line 3-3 of FIGURE 2, looking in the direction of the arrows;

FIGURE 4 is a fragmentary detail sectional view through the clamp andtow rope, the view showing the opposite side of the clamp from thatshown in FIGURE FIGURE 5 is a fragmentary detail sectional view taken onthe line 55 of FIGURE 2, looking in the direction of the arrows,illustrating the connection of the movable gripping jaw with the bodyportion of the appliance, and

FIGURE 6 is a view similar to FIGURE 2, but showing the clamp removedfrom the tow rope and in its collapsed, inoperative position alongsideof the shaft of the pole.

Referring to the drawings in detail, wherein similar referencecharacters designate corresponding parts Patented Sept. 26, 1961throughout the several views, the latter C generally indicates my novelclamp for use in conjunction with a ski pole P for gripping engagementwith a tow rope R. The ski pole P is of a construction now in common useand hence includes a shaft 10 having a pointed lower terpole. Thissleeve on opposite sides of its open or split portion is providedadjacent to its opposite ends with apertured ears 15. Adjusting bolts 16extend through the apertures of the ears and by tightening these boltsthe sleeve can be firmly secured to the pole against accidentalmovement. In actual practice, the bolts 16 are removed from the ears 15and the body portion 14 is spread open and sprung over the shaft 10 ofthe pole P, preferably adjacent to its lower end, but above the bracket13. The body portion 14 is then slid up on the pole to a point adjacentto the upper end of the pole and the bolts 16 are reinserted in theapertured cars 15 and tightened. The sleeve or body portion 14 at oneside and adjacent to its opposite ends is provided with hearing ears 17and 18. These bearing ears are arranged in longitudinal alignment for apurpose which will now appear. The lower bearing cars 17 pivotallysupport and carry a clamping arm 19.

The outer end of the clamping arm :19 has formed there on a jaw 20 andthis jaw is in the nature of an open book for partially embracing thetow rope R. It is to be noted that the hook opens out through its upperend, so that the same can be easily hooked onto the rope and so that thejaw can easily drop off of the rope by its own weight.

The inner end of the arm 19 is connected to the lower bearing ears 17 bymeans of a pivot pin or rivet 21. Between the rigid jaw or hook 20 andthe pivot pin 21, the arm is provided with a longitudinally extendingguide slot 22.

Pivotally carriedby the upper bearing ears 18 is a clamping arm 23 andthe outer end of this arm is provided with an angularly extendingU-shaped clamping jaw 24. This jaw slides back and forth over the jaw 20and across the open end of the jaw 20. The inner end of the arm 23 ispivotally connected to the upper cars 18 by means of a pivot pin orrivet 25. In actual practice, one of the pivot pins 21 or 25 can be inthe nature of an adjusting bolt for a purpose, which will be later setforth. The outer end of the arm 23 inward of the jaw 24 is provided withlaterally extending guide ears 26 which slidably embrace the lower arm19. These guide ears 26 carry a guide pin 27, which is slidably receivedwithin the slot 22.

With the clamp C attached to the pole P, as just described, and it isdesired to connect the same with the tow rope R, then the rigid jaw 20is hooked into engagement with the rope and the lower end of the pole Pis swung outwardly away from the rope causing the pole to pivot on thepin 21 forcing the upper end of the pole toward the rope and theconsequent sliding of the jaw 24 into intimate gripping contact with therope. Thus the rope is firmly held between the rigid jaw 20 and thesliding jaw 24. Obviously, the greater the movement of the lower end ofthe pole away from the rope the tighter the gripping of the rope. As theclamp extends laterally from the rope R and at an angle to the rope theskier can easily pass the lower end of the pole between his legs and situpon the basket 13. Thus an effective seat is provided for the skier andthe pull of the rope is on the body of the skier. Hence the firmgrasping of the rope R by the skier is eliminated. If the skier shouldso desire, one hand could be used on the rope merely as a steadyingmeans.

'Ehe clamp "C i can be .instantly detached item the rope ndrthusithedevice-is provided with a-maximum amount of safety forthe skier.Whenitisdesired to release the ,clampC from the rope R, itis merelynecessary for the .Sklel3t0 ,move the lower end of the pole ,towardtherope andsthis in'turn willmove the slidable jaw '24 away from theiropeland out of gripping contact with the rope. As the;rigid jaw 20is.in: the form of an open hook, the same will fall-off of the rope byits own weight.

WhentheskipOle -P isibeing used in its normalfashion, {the arm22isswung;toward the pole P, as best shown in .FIG'URE'6 of thedrawings, and hence the entire clamp -,w ill be-disposed substantiallyparallel with the shaft 10 of the pole. Thus, the clampisdisposed in anout-of-the-way positionandwill not-interfere with normal use of the,pole.

As stated, one of the pivot pins 21 or :25 can beinthe (nature of anadjusting bolt and when the clamp is in its collapsed position,thelboltcan be tightened so as gto preaventaccidental swingingmovementof the inner andouter arms-19 and 23.

it is obvious that the shaft 10 of the poleitself could =be;manufacturedwith the lower and upper pivotears '17 and 18,1and hence the clampcanform a direct partof the .pole. bviously,-in the form illustrated, theclamp is .to be attached to poles now on-the open market.

zvariousmther changes in details may be made without departing from thespirit or the scope of this invention, but what-I claim asnew is:

.1. Adevice for facilitatingthe pulling ofskiers uptinclines by towropes .cornprising .a ski =pole including a .shaft,-means-,carried bythe-shaft for releasably clamping .a :tow rope including, an arm havingits inner end pivot- ,ally carried by theshaft, adjacent to the upper.end of said gpole, iaghook-shaped rigid jaw carried by the outer .endof said arm for partially receiving the :tow rope, a

second arm ihavingjits inner end pivotallycarried by the ,shaft.inspaced relation to the first .-rnentioned.arm, :a U- shaped jaw formedonzthe outer'end. of the second arm for movementtowardand away from thehook-shaped rigid :jaw forzengaging the tow ropeon the opposite side ofthe rope from-said hook-shaped rigid jaw, saidfirst-mentioned arm beingprovided with a longitudinally extending guide slot, and second armhaving guide ears intermediate its :length embracing the first:mentioned arm, and .a slide pin: carried by the-earsreceived insa-idslot, said vU-shaped jaw:being movable toward and away from the rigidjaw upon swinging movement of ithe shaft and said .U-shaped jawEin.one;of its positions partially closing the hookshaped. rigid jaw.

2. :Inadevice for facilitating .the pulling ofskiers up inclines lbyJtQWropes, the combination with a tow rope, :a ski pole :including a shaftand a basket secured to the ;S;ha .t"adjac.ent1tolitsplowertend,.and areleasable tow rope ZEI'iPPiBEfilQHlPJOHITlfid by the shaft adjacent toits upper end-and in spaced relation to .the l-basket, said clampincluding an arm pivotally carried by the shaftand having :Iigid jawwfortpartially encircling the :tow rope and a second arm pivotallyicanied:by the shaftehaving a clamping gjawslidablymountedonthe'first:arm andoperated by movement of onerendtofxthe shaft toward andaway from therope and the rigid jaw, said sliding jaw being of a U-shape forpartially encircling the rope on the opposite side thereof from therigid jaw, and said sliding jaw being movable over the rigid jaw and theopen portion of said rigid jaw by the swingingiof .the shaft with theshaft extending downwardly and away from the 'rope, whereby the shaftcan bestradd-led by a skier with jthe-basketin rear of the skieintoformaseat. 3. A device for facilitating the pulling of skiers up in- .cl-inesbytowropes comprising aski pole including a shaft, an arm pivotallycarriedbysaid shaftforswinging-movement having a rigid jaw on its outerend for engaging one side of a tow rope, and asecondarmpivotally-carried by the sha ftsfor swinging movement in spacedrelation-{to the first mentioned arm and having a substantially U-shapedjaw on its ou-ter end for partially engaging thertowrope on the oppositeside-thereofifromthe rigid.jaw,.and-means slidably connecting the secondarm adjacentgto its outer end .to the first-mentioned arm.

4. A device for facilitating the pulling of skiers up {inclines-by-towropes comprising a longitudinally split'sleeve adapted .to embrace a skipole intermediate its "longitudinal length and adjacent to the upper endthereof, -rneans for-tightening the split sleeve for gripping engage-:ment with the ski pole, an arm pivotally secured to-the sleeve adjacentto ,the lower end thereof for swinging movement having a longitudinallyextending slotand'a hook-shaped rigid jaw, a second armpivotallyeonnected to the sleeve adjacent to the upper end of saidsleeve, :a .U-shapedjaw carried by the outer end of said second'arm, andsaid secondarm having laterally extending guide :ears :embracing saidfirst mentioned arm and a guide .pin carried by said ears slidablyreceived in said slot, .said U- ..shaped jaw being slidablealong saidfirstmentionedann upon swinging movement ofzthe sleeve and ,pole.

5. ;A device for facilitating the pull-lingof skiersup inclines (by {towropes as defined in claim 4, andsaid arms being collapsible 1053311inoperative .positiou substantially .-parallel with the-sleeve.

6. A device for facilitating the pulling of skiers .up.in-

clinestby tow .ropes comprising a ski pole includinga shaft and meanscarried by the shaft forreleasably clamping a .towsropeincluding apairof arms pivotally canried'byrthe shaft in spaced relation, :ahook-shapedrope engagingv jaw References Cited in the file of this patent UNITEDSTATES PATENTS 495,843 Shipp -Apr. 18, 1893 2,340,868 Dye Feb. '8, 19442,548,800 Judson ,Apr. 10, 1951 2,624,289 Pomagalski Jan. 6, 1953

